Martha McGill, President – Central Florida Region, Nemours Children’s Health

April 2026 — Invest: spoke with Martha McGill, president of the Central Florida region at Nemours Children’s Health, about expanding pediatric access, advancing research and training, and strengthening Florida’s position as a national leader in children’s healthcare. “Taking care of children isn’t part of what we do, it’s all we do,” McGill said, sharing Nemours Children’s mission to elevate care so that no child has to leave the state for treatment.

What key milestones and strategic developments have defined the past year for Nemours Children’s Health in Central Florida?

Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, is the only licensed specialty children’s hospital in Central Florida. That distinction matters because 100% of the decisions we make and 100% of the dollars we spend are dedicated to improving the well-being of a child. We care for some of the sickest and most complex children in the region, and we see ourselves as a premier civic asset, committed to this community in perpetuity.

One of our most significant milestones has been our continued commitment to growth and access. We are developing a 40,000-square-foot multispecialty clinic in Viera, just east of our hospital. This expansion will bring orthopedics, neurology, pulmonology, primary care, cardiology, and other specialties closer to families in that community. It is another example of our commitment to Florida’s children.

Florida continues to grow rapidly, with more than 1,000 people relocating to the state each day. There are approximately 4.4 million children statewide,yet Florida does not currently have a top-ranked children’s hospital. We are investing heavily in clinical care, teaching, and research so we can become that top-ranked children’s hospital for Florida’s children.

Today, too many of the sickest children must leave the state to receive the highest level of care. We believe Florida’s children deserve better, and we are building that capability here.

How is Nemours Children’s strengthening its role in education and workforce development?

Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, has officially and exclusively established the UCF College of Medicine — Nemours Children’s Health Department of Pediatrics in partnership with the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. We have trained its third- and fourth-year medical students since the school’s inception and will continue to grow alongside the university.

We also operate the Nemours Children’s pediatric residency and fellowship training program. By July 2026, we will have close to 80 residents and fellows. In 2025 alone, we welcomed more than 220 residents and fellows from external programs to enhance their expertise in caring for Florida’s children.

This work is essential given the national physician shortage. More than 50% of those we train remain in Orlando, and more than two-thirds stay in Florida. We are building the next generation of pediatric specialists who will serve this state for decades.

Nemours Children’s has earned national recognition across several specialties. What is driving that performance?

We currently have four programs ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report: orthopedics, endocrinology and diabetes, pulmonology, and behavioral health.

Our orthopedics program is the highest-ranking pediatric orthopedics program in Central Florida. We have recruited exceptional talent, including Dr. Shawn Standard, a surgeon specializing in limb correction who attracts patients from around the world. His work transforms lives for children and families.

Behavioral health is another area of distinction. The need among children has grown dramatically, and we have invested accordingly. Our goal is to have all the specialties we offer  ranked among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report. We are investing strategically to achieve that.

You referenced the importance of statewide collaboration. Can you elaborate on that?

There are four licensed specialty children’s hospitals in Florida: Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, Johns Hopkins All Children’s on the west coast, and Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, with whom we have a longstanding collaboration.

Together, we advocated for state support to elevate pediatric cancer care. We worked with state leaders, including Governor DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis, to address that gap.

The result was a $7.5 million recurring allocation for each hospital, totaling $30 million annually for five years. Those funds are dedicated to improving cancer care across the state. A child with cancer should never have to leave Florida for treatment, and we are committed to ensuring that is no longer the reality for children and families.

How is Nemours Children’s addressing access and whole-child health beyond the hospital walls?

We operate more than 50 locations across Florida and partner with over a dozen hospitals. Our goal is to keep children close to home whenever possible, reserving hospital-based care for the most complex cases.

Our CEO Dr. R. Lawrence Moss has challenged us to think beyond medicine. Eighty percent of a child’s well-being is determined outside hospital walls. Through our Whole Child Health approach, we address kindergarten readiness, food insecurity, family resources and more.

Before discharge, we conduct food insecurity screenings. When needed, families leave with at least one week of food and follow-up support. We also partner with Ronald McDonald House Charities to ensure families traveling for care have housing and community support.

Investing in children strengthens every aspect of a state’s future.

How are preventive care and behavioral health shaping pediatric delivery models?

We have embedded behavioral health specialists directly into our primary care clinics. Families trust their pediatricians, and this model reduces stigma and improves access. Children can receive behavioral health support during a routine visit.

We also pioneered the Pediatric Acute Telemental Health (PATH) program, expanding access through telehealth. This model is both affordable and scalable. By intervening earlier, we are improving outcomes and reducing hospitalizations.

The demand for behavioral health professionals will continue to outpace supply nationally. Integrated and technology-enabled care models are essential to meeting that need.

How is technology advancing care delivery at Nemours Children’s?

We recently launched Advanced Care at Home, which enables patients who are medically ready to safely discharge from the hospital toreceive exceptional care in their homes, supported by remote monitoring, 24/7 clinical access and cutting-edge technology. We know that families often prefer home-based care when appropriately available. This model improves patient experience while maintaining high clinical standards.

How are rising healthcare costs and reimbursement challenges affecting pediatric systems?

Labor represents more than 60% of hospital operating costs, and competition for talent has intensified as Florida’s population grows and new facilities open.

Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, cares for a higher percentage of Medicaid patients than any hospital in Florida, not just children’s hospitals. Medicaid reimbursement does not fully cover the cost of care, but our mission is clear: We care for every child, regardless of the ability to pay.

We maintain close dialogue with state and federal leaders to advocate for sustainable pediatric funding. Children represent a significant share of Medicaid enrollees but receive a smaller portion of overall funding. Ensuring adequate resources for pediatric care is critical to the long-term health of our state.

Looking ahead, what are Nemours Children’s Health’s strategic priorities?

We will continue investing in clinical excellence, teaching, and research. In terms of National Institutes of Health funding, Nemours Children’s Health ranks among the top children’s hospitals nationally. Our goal is to move into the top 10.

In addition, transformational research is underway, including clinical trials exploring novel therapies in oncology and infectious disease. Our neurosciences program is now the most comprehensive program of its kind in Florida, and we are expanding epilepsy surgery and advanced cardiac services. Our cardiac programs have the best clinical outcomes in the state of Florida.

Across every specialty, our objective is consistent: to build the best programs in the nation so that no child in Florida ever has to leave the state for care. Taking care of children isn’t part of what we do, it’s all we do.

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